^Park  Ordinances,  * 
rules  and  regulations 


GENERAL  USE  OF  THE  PARKS,  TRAFFIC  ON 
DRIVES  AND  PARKWAYS,  TRAFFIC  ON 
PUBLIC  DRIVEWAY  (HARLEM 
RIVER  DRIVEWAY.) 

PUBLIC  HACKS  AT  ENTRANCES  TO  CENTRAL  PARK. 


5HT  AND  CHARACTER  OF  FENCES  FRONTING  UPON 
OR  ADJACENT  TO  PARKS,  PARKWAYS,  ETC , 
AND  ADVERTISING  MATTER  TIIEREON. 


 GOVERNING  


PRBSS  OF 

W.  P.  Mitchell  &  Son, 

39  BRBKMAN  STREET, 
NEW  YORK. 


1898. 


<  r 


Adopted  in  Board  of  Parks,  September  15th,  1898. 

Resolved,  That  the  Park  Ordinances  adopted  May  23d, 
1871,  March  21st,  1873,  June  28th,  1897,  the  Hides  and 
Regulations  passed  August  17th,  1896  and  the  Rules  for  the 
Harlem  River  (Public)  Driveway  and  for  Public  Hacks  at 
the  Entrances  to  Central  Park,  established  by  the  Commis- 
sioner for  the  Boroughs  of  Manhattan  and  Richmond,  as 
certified  and  published  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Park  Board 
August  1st,  1898.  be  and  they  hereby  are  adopted,  enacted 
and  declared  ordinances  of  the  Park  Board  for  the  Boroughs 
of  Manhattan  and  Richmond,  under  the  authority  and 
according  to  the  provisions  of  Section  610  of  the  Charter  of 
The  City  of  New  York. 

A  true  copy. 

WILLIS  HOLLY, 

Secretary  Park  Board. 

Amendment  t.o  Driveway  Rule  I,  (Page  8.) 

Until  the  hour  of  One  P.  M.  the  use  of  what  is  known 
as  the  Light  Road  Cart  will  be  permitted  on  the  Driveway. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2014 


http://archive.org/details/parkordinancesruOOdurs 


ORDINANCES,  RULES  AND  REGULATIONS  OF 
THE  PUBLIC  SQUARES  AND  PLACES  IN  THE 
CITY  OF  NEW  YORK. 

(Adopted  May  23,  1871.) 

The  Board  of  Commissioners  of  the  Department  of  Pub- 
lic Parks  in  the  City  of  New  York  do  ordain  as  follows  : 

ALL  PERSONS  ARE  FORBIDDEN 

I.  — To  cut,  break,  or  in  any  way  injure  or  deface  the 
trees,  shrubs,  plants,  grass,  posts,  railings,  chaius,  lamps, 
lamp  posts,  benches,  tree-guards,  buildings  or  structures 
in  or  upon  any  of  the  public  parks,  squares  or  places  of  or 
within  the  City  of  New  York  ;  or  to  dig  into  or  upon  the 

•soil  within  the  boundaries  of  an)-  such  parks,  squares  or 
places,  or  of  any  roads  or  roadways  upon  or  across  the 
same. 

II.  — To  go  on  foot  or  otherwise  upon  the  grass,  except 
when  and  where  the  word  "  common"  is  posted. 

III.  — To  expose  any  articles  for  sale  or  exhibition,  unless 
previously  licensed  therefor,  on  any  part  of  such  squares 
or  places  or  on  any  street  or  avenue  adjaceut  thereto. 

IV.  — To  post  any  bill,  placard,  notice,  or  other  paper 
upon  any  structure  within  such  squares  or  places,  or  upon 
any  street  or  avenue  adjacent  thereto,  unless  previously 
licensed  so  to  do  by  the  President  of  the  Department. 

V.  — To  play  upon  any  musical  instrument  within  such 
squares  or  places,  or  take  into,  carry,  or  display  any  tlag, 
banuer,  target,  or  transparency,  without  the  permission  of 
the  President  of  the  Department. 


a 


VI.  — To  erect  any  structure,  stand,  or  platform,  or  hold 
any  meetings  in  such  squares  or  places,  without  previous 
permission  therefor  from  said  President. 

VII.  — To  use  threatening,  abusive  or  insulting  language 
upon  any  of  such  squares  or  places,  or  doing  any  obscene 
or  indecent  act  thereon,  or  any  act  tending  to  a  breach 
of  the  public  peace . 

VIII—  "No  hackney  coach,  carriage,  wagon,  cart  or 
other  vehicle  for  hire  shall  stand  upon  any  such  square  or 
place,  or  upon  any  street  or  avenue  adjacent  thereto,  with- 
out previous  license,  and  then  only  at  such  place  as  shall 
be  indicated  and  allowed  by  the  President  of  the  Department. 

IX.— No  horse  or  other 'animal  shall  be  allowed  upon 
such  squares  or  places,  except  that  dogs  may  be  allowed 
therein  when  led  by  a  chain  or  proper  dog-string  not  ex- 
ceeding six  feet  in  length. 

X  — No  person  shall  bathe  or  fish  in  any  of  the  waters 
or  fountains  in  such  squares  or  places,  nor  cast  any  sub- 
stances therein,  nor  disturb  or  interfere  in  any  way  with 
the  fish  or  birds  within  such  squares  or  places. 

XI  — All  drunken,  disorderly,  or  improper  persons,  and 
all  persons  doing  any  act  injurious  to  such  parks,  squares 
or  places,  may  be  removed  therefrom  by  the  park-keepers 
in  charge  thereof. 

XII.—  No  animal  or  vehicle  shall  be  permitted  to  stand, 
nor  any  incumbrance  of  any  kind  be  allowed  to  remain, 
upon  any  street  adjacent  to  or  bounding  upon  any  public 
square  or  place  in  the  City  of  New  York,  without  the  pre- 
vious permission  of  this  Department  or  the  President 
thereof,  except  that  vehicles  may  be  permitted  to  take  up 
and  set  down  passengers,  and  to  load  and  unload  merchan- 
dise in  the  usual  manner,  and  may  occupy  the  street  a 


3 


reasonable  time  for  the  purpose  ;  provided,  however,  that 
(hey  >h;i  1 1  not  while  so  doing  unnecessarily  incumber  the 
street  or  obstruct  travel  therein. 

XIII.  — Any  person  arrested  for  violating  any  ordinance 
or  regulation  of  the  Department  of  Public  Parks  shall  be 
conveyed  by  the  officer  arresting  to  the  nearest  magistrate, 
and  complaint  shall  thereupon  be  entered,  and  the  person 
dealt  with  according  to  law. 


ORDINANCES  APPLICABLE  TO  THE  ORDINARY 
USES  OF  THE  CENTRAL  PARK. 

Adopted  on  the  31st  day  of  March,  1873,  by  the  Board 
of  Commissioners  of  the  Department  of  Public  Parks, 
and  to  be  observed  by  all  persons  not  in  the  service 
of  the  Department. 

1.  No  one  shall  enter  or  leave  the  Park  except  at  the 
established  entrance  ways,  nor  shall  any  one  enter  or  remain 
in  it  after  twelve  o'clock  at  night,  except  as,  on  special  oc- 
casions, its  general  use  may  be  authorized  beyond  the 
regular  hours. 

2.  No  one  shall  climb  upon  or  in  any  way  cut,  break, 
injure  or  deface  any  wall,  fence,  shelter,  seat,  statue  or  other 
erection,  nor  any  turf,  tree,  shrub  or  other  plant,  nor  throw 
BtOtM  s  or  other  missiles,  nor  discharge,  fire  or  carry  any  fire- 
arm, fire-cracker  torpedo  or  fireworks,  nor  make  a  fire, 
nor  play  any  musical  instrument,  nor  offeror  expose  things 
for  sale,  nor  post  or  display  any  sign,  placard,  flag,  banner, 
target,  transparency,  advertisement  or  device  of  business, 
nor  solicit  business  or  fares,  nor  beg  or  publicly  solicit 


4 


subscriptions  or  contributions,  nor  tell  fortunes,  nor  play 
games  of  chance  or  with  any  table  or  instruments  of  gam- 
ing, nor  make  any  oration  or  harangue,  nor  utter  loud, 
threatening,  abusive  or  indecent  language,  nor  do  any 
indecent  or  obscene  act. 

3.  No  quadrupeds  except  those  placed  in  the  Park  by 
the  Commissioners,  and  except  dogs  when  controlled  by  a 
line  of  suitable  strength  not  more  than  six  feet  in  length, 
and  horses  and  others  used  for  pleasure  travel,  shall  be 
driven  or  conducted  into  the  Park  or  allowed  to  remain  in 
it. 

4.  The  drive  shall  be  used  only  by  persons  in  pleasure 
carriages,  on  bicycles  or  on  horseback  ;  the  ride  only  by 
persons  on  horseback  ;  animals  to  be  used  on  either  shall  be 
well  broken  and  constantly  held  in  such  control,  that  they 
maybe  easily  and  quickly  tinned  or  stopped;  they  shall 
not  be  allowed  to  move  at  a  rate  of  speed  which  shall  be 
alarming  or  cause  danger,  nor  under  any  circumstances  at 
a  rate  of  speed  on  the  drive  of  more  than  seven  miles, 
nor  on  the  ride  of  over  ten  miles  an  hour  ;  and  when  any 
park  keeper  shall  deem  it  necessary  to  safety,  good  order, 
or  the  general  convenience,  that  the  speed  of  an  animal 
shall  be  checked,  or  that  it  should  be  stopped,  or  its  course 
altered,  and  shall  so  direct,  by  gesture  or  otherwise,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  rider  or  driver  of  such  animal  to  follow 
such  direction;  and  no  horse  or  other  beast  of  burden  or 
draft  shall  be  driven  or  suffered  to  stand  anywhere,  except 
on  the  drive  or  ride. 

5.  No  hackney  coach  or  other  vehicle  for  hire  shall 
stand  within  the  Park  for  the  purpose  of  taking  up 
passengers,  other  than  those  whom  it  has  brought  in.  No 
omnibus  or  express  wagon,  and  no  wagon  cart  or  other 


5 


vehicle,  carrying  or  ordinarily  used  to  carry  merchandise, 
goods,  tools  or  rubbish,  and  no  fire  engine  or  other 
apparatus  on  wheels  for  extinguishing  fires  shall  enter  or 
be  allowed  upou  any  part  of  the  Park. 

6.  No  military  or  target  company,  and  no  civic,  funeral 
or  other  procession,  or  a  detachment  of  a  procession,  and  no 
hearse  or  other  vehicle,  or  person  carrying  the  body  of  a 
dead  person  shall  enter,  or  be  allowed  on  any  part  of  the 
Park. 

7.  No  person  shall  bathe  or  angle,  or  take  fish,  or  send 
or  throw  or  place  any  animal  or  thing  in  or  on  the  waters, 
or  disturb  or  annoy  the  birds  or  animals  in  the  Park. 

8.  No  person  shall  go  on  the  turf  except  when  and 
where  a  blue  flag  with  a  ichite  star  is  shown  as  an  indication 
that  at  that  time  and  place  all  persons  are  allowed  to  go  on 
it. 

9.  No  person  shall  bring  into  or  carry  within  the  Park 
any  tree,  shrub,  plant  or  flower,  nor  any  newly  plucked 
branch  or  portion  thereof. 

10.  When  necessary  to  the  protection  of  life  or  property, 
the  officers  and  keepers  of  the  Park  may  require  all  persons 
to  remove  from  and  keep  off  any  designated  part  thereof. 

11.  On  the  arrest  of  a  person  in  the  Park,  he  shall  be 
forthwith  conducted  to  one  of  the  keepers'  stations,  the 
officer  in  charge  of  which  shall  determine  whether  he  shall 
thence  be  conveyed  before  a  magistrate  or  be  discharged. 


6 


TRAFFIC  ON  DRIVES  AND  PARKWAYS. 

Department  of  Public  Parks, 

An  Ordinance  regulating  the  use  of  vehicles  in  Central 
Park  and  other  parks,  parkways  and  streets  under  the 
jurisdiction  and  control  of  the  Commissioners  of  the 
Department  of  Public  Parks  of  the  City  of  New  Yoik, 
passed  June  28,  1897. 

1.  All  vehicles  must  carry  a  lighted  lamp,  showing  a 
white  light  ahead,  from  thiity  minutes  after  suDset  until 
thirty  minutes  before  sunrise. 

2.  All  vehicles  and  horsemen,  when  passing  another 
vehicle  or  horseman  going  in  the  same  direction,  must  keep 
to  the  left  and  leave  the  vehicle  or  horseman  they  are 
passing  on  the  right  hand. 

3.  All  vehicles  or  horsemen  going  at  a  walk  or  slow  trot 
must  keep  near  the  curbstone  or  gutter  on  the  right  hand 
side  of  the  road  ;  those  going  more  rapidly  must  keep  in 
the  middle  of  the  road. 

4.  No  vehicle  should  stop  for  any  purpose  without 
drawing  up  to  the  curt  stone  or  gutter,  and  always  on  the 
right  hand  side  of  the  road. 

5.  Before  pulling  up  and  before  crossing  from  one  side 
to  the  other  of  the  road  or  street,  the  diiver  should  signal 
to  those  behind  him  by  raising  his  whip. 

6.  On  Riverside  Drive,  between  One  Hundred  and  Third 
and  One  Hundred  and  Twentieth  streets,  where  grass  plots 
divide  the  drive,  all  vehicles  and  horsemen  going  north 
must  keep  on  the  Easterly  Drive  ;  those  going  south,  on  the 
Westerly  Drive. 


7.  Drivers,  riders  and  cyclists  must  not  exceed  a  speed 
of  eight  miles  an  hour  in  the  parks  and  parkways. 

H.  Cyclists  must  not  coast  in  the  parks,  nor  on  the  park- 
ways or  bicycle  paths,  and  must  keep  their  feet  on  the 
pedals  and  their  hands  on  the  handle-bars. 

9.  Cyclists  must  not  mount  or  dismount,  except  on  the 
extreme  right  of  the  roads  or  bicycle  paths,  and  in  passing 
vehicles  or  horsemen  bells  must  be  sounded. 

10.  All  bicycles,  tricycles,  velocipedes  or  other  vehicles 
of  propulsion  must  be  provided  with  a  bicycle  bell,  not  to 
exceed  three  inches  in  diameter. 

11.  Riding  more  than  two  abreast  is  prohibited. 

K\  Instruction  on  the  bicycle,  tricycle,  velocipede  or 
other  such  vehicle  of  propulsion,  and  all  trick  or  fancy 
riding  on  the  same,  is  prohibited  in  the  parks  at  all  times. 

18.  Wheelmen  shall  not  ride  on  the  paths  in  any  park, 
those  walking  upon  the  park  paths  may  push  their  wheels 
along  said  paths  ;  but  in  no  case  shall  the  wheels  be  taken 
upon  the  turf. 

14.  No  bicycje  or  tricycle  shall  be  allowed  to  be  taken 
upon  or  remain  on  the  Mall  during  the  progress  of  a 
concert. 

15.  Any  person  violating  the  provisions  of  this  ordin- 
ance shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  upon 
conviction  thereof  before  any  City  Magistrate,  shall  be 
fined  not  exceeding  Ten  Dollars,  and  in  default  of  pay- 
ment, by  imprisonment  not  exceeding  ten  days,  each  day 
of  imprisonment  to  be  taken  as  a  liquidation  of  one  dollar 
of  the  fine. 

All  ordinances  and  parts  of  ordinances  of  the  Department 
of  Public  Parks  inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of  this 
ordinance  are  hereby  revoked  and  rescinded. 


8 


HARLEM  RIVER  PUBLIC  DRIVEWAY  RULES. 

1.  The  use  of  the  Speedway  is  restricted  to  light 
vehicles  of  the  classes  known  as  Buggies  (top  and  no  top), 
runabouts,  surreys  and  other  like  vehicles,  adapted  to  the 
speeding  of  light  harness  horses,  seating  not  more  than  four 
persons  and  drawn  by  one  or  two  horses. 

2.  Except  when  speeding  each  driver  shall  keep  closely 
to  the  right  hand  side  of  the  road. 

3.  Pedestrains  must  not  cross  on  the  speedway.  Sub- 
ways are  provided  for  that  purpose. 

Violations  of  these  rules  is  punishable  by  a  fine  not 
to  exceed  Ten  Dollars. 


RULES  FOR  PUBLIC  HACKS  AT  THE  ENTRANCES 
TO  CENTRAL  PARK. 

I.  Not  more  than  ten  public  hacks  and  five  hansom 
cabs  may  stand  at  any  one  time  on  the  Plaza  at  Fifth 
avenue,  between  Fifty-eighth  and  Fifty-ninth  streets,  at 
the  curb  of  the  lower  end  and  west  side  of  the  "Circle," 
the  curb  north  of  the  line  of  trees  to  be  kept  clear. 

II.  Lounging  and  the  keeping  of  feed  bags,  fodder, 
horse  covers  &c,  in  and  about  the  "Circle"  is  forbidden. 

III.  Occupants  of  this  stand  are  required  to  have  a 
Park  Department  permit,  showing  their  license  number 
and  when  soliciting  fares  must  display  conspicuously  a 
badge  bearing  the  same  number. 

IV.  Soliciting  fares  for  hacks  aud  cabs  is  prohibited 
within  the  curb  on  the  north  side  of  59th  street  or  the  line 


9 


of  said  curb  continued  across  the  Plaza  until  it  meets  the 
line  of  the  curb  on  the  westerly  side  of  Fifth  avenue  and 
across  the  "Circle"  at  Eighth  avenue  until  it  meets  the 
curb  on  the  easterly  side  of  that  avenue. 

V.  The  Park  Department  permit  of  any  driver  found 
guilty  of  charging  in  excess  of  the  rates  provided  for  in  the 
ordinances  governiug  such  rates  will  be  revoked  forthwith. 


RULES    AND  REGULATIONS. 

Adopted  August  17,  189G,  by  the  Commissioners  of  Public 
Parks,  regulating  and  determining  the  height  and 
character  of  fences  in  or  about  vacant  or  unimproved 
lands  fronting  upon  or  adjacent  to  Public  Parks, 
squares  and  places,  and  regulating  the  exhibition  of 
advertisements  aud  ordaining  penalties  for  violation 
thereof  uuder  the  authority  of  Section  688  of  the 
Consolidation  Act,  as  amended  by  Chapter  836  of  the 
Laws  of  1890. 

t.  No  fence  in-  or  about  any  vacant  or  unimproved  land 
fronting  upon  or  adjacent  to  any  public  park,  square  or 
place  in  the  City  of  New  York,  shall  be  erected  until  a 
plan,  showing  the  height,  character  and  method  of  con- 
struction of  the  proposed  fences,  has  been  submitted  to  the 
Commissioners  of  Public  Parks,  approved  by  them,  and  a 
permit  in  writing  issued  therefor. 

2.  No  poster  or  advertising  device  shall  be  placed  upon 
any  fence  or  other  structure  intended  for  advertisement  or 
the  exhibition  of  advertisements  in,  about  or  upon  any 
vacant  or  unimproved  land  fronting  upon  or  adjacent,  to 
any  public  park,  square  or  place  in  the  City  of  New  York 
until  a  description  or  drawing  of  the  same  shall  be  riled 


10 


with  the  Commissioners  of  Public  Parks,  approved  by 
them  and  a  permit  in  writing  issued  therefor. 

3.  Owners  of  existing  fences,  or  other  structures  in- 
tended or  used  for  advertisements  or  the  exhibition  of  ad- 
vertisements, now  existing  in,  about  or  upon  any  vacant  or 
unimproved  lands  fronting  upon  or  adjacent  to  any  public 
park,  square  or  place  in  the  City  of  New  York,  are  hereby 
required,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  September,  1896,  to 
file  with  the  Commissioners  of  Public  Parks  a  plan  showing 
the  height,  character  and  method  of  construction  of  fences, 
or  other  structures  intended  or  used  for  advertisements, 
and  a  description  or  drawing  of-  any  poster  or  advertising 
device  thereon.  The  Commissioners,  if  they  approve  the 
said  fences,  structures,  posters,  or  advertising  devices  may 
issue  a  permit  in  writing  for  the  continuance  thereof  or 
may  direct  such  changes  or  modifications  therein  as  they 
may  determine  and  issue  a  written  permit  therefor.  On 
and  after  said  first  day  of  September,  1896,  no  existing 
fences,  structure  intended  or  used  for  advertising  purposes, 
device  or  advertisement  shall  be  continued  unless  with  the 
approval  of  the  Commissioners  of  Public  Parks,  obtained 
as  hereinbefore  required  and  evidenced  by  their  written 
permit. 

4.  Any  person  violating  any  of  the  foregoing  rules  and 
regulations  shall  be  subject  to  the  penalty  of  Two  hundred 
and  fifty  ($250)  Dollars. 

True  copies  of  ordinances  of  the  Park  Board. 

August  1st,  1898. 

WILLIS  HOLLY, 

Secretary  Park  Board. 


